How to do Giving Tuesday in Austin

Today is Giving Tuesday, and say what you will about it, in 2017 the #GivingTuesday Data Project reported $274 million raised from more than 2.5 million contributions. It’s certainly enough money to entice 479 Austin-area nonprofits to register on the Giving Tuesday site.

It’s meant to kick off the charitable-giving season and help us atone for all the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping we’re doing. But it doesn’t have to stop after Giving Tuesday. Consider making a gift, then turning it into a monthly gift to support the cause you care about all year.

Give on Facebook
Facebook is partnering with PayPal to match a total of up to $7 million in donations made on Facebook to eligible US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits. If you’re on Facebook today, you’ll probably see plenty of opportunities to give.

Give directly to the nonprofit you care about from their website. Many of them have matching donations from private donors (Big Brothers Big Sisters, Hand to Hold, KLRU), so look for certain times when the matches are available. I’m sure they’ll send you an email with all the information you need.

Give to the Season for Caring campaign. For 19 years, the Austin American-Statesman has told the stories of some of the neediest families in Central Texas, partnering with nonprofits to identify them. In that time, it’s raised more than $11 million in cash and in-kind donations because the stories are so moving – and their needs are so great and so small at the same time.

Volunteering? If you’re a business or an organization, I Live Here, I Give Here asks that you report your good works and volunteering on their form by Nov. 30 so they can track them for the community. ILHIGH’s goal this year will be 2 million actions-for-good, which will include monetary donations as well as volunteering and acts of service.

Adopt a family for the holiday. Sign up and shop for gifts for a needy child or family today – a great activity for kids, a family, a group, or your office. See our annual list of all they giving opportunities.

Donate in-kind items, new and gently used. See our list of ways to give much-needed items to charities around Austin.

Have fun at the ILHIGH pop-up party. I Live Here I Give Here and Big Medium are hosting a free pop-up party at Canopy in East Austin today from 5:30-8:00 p.m. The family-friendly event will feature local nonprofit organizations and activities, including arts and crafts from Big Medium, pet fostering with Austin Humane Society, poinsettia sales from Down Home Ranch, pies from Meals on Wheels, a story telling booth from Texas Folk Life, games from Special Olympics Central Texas, the I Live Here I Give Here photobooth, complimentary cocktails from Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Nine Banded Whiskey, beer provided by Independence Brewing, cookies from Tiff’s Treats, and more.

Party with Home Slice Pizza. Home Slice Pizza is hosting a grand finale in support of the month-long, charity-driven campaign, DOUGHvember, for which the local pizzeria will host an extremely rare collaboration featuring Via 313 and Pinthouse Pizza tomorrow from 5:00-8:00 m at its original location on South Congress (dine-in only). Both Home Slice and Via 313 are planning to recreate several of each other’s popular pizza offerings – marking the second time ever that Home Slice’s highly protected pizza ovens will bake pies not originally created by the Home Slice team. Pinthouse Pizza is also confirmed for a Tap Take-Over replacing all 4 drafts with their own beers. To end the festivities, there will be a raffle drawing for Free Pizza for a Year!

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